, is what seems like the inevitability now that the next united states secretary of state is going to be massachusetts democratic senator john kerry. nbc news has been able to confirm that senator kerry will be nominated for that job by president obama likely sometime this week. senator kerry is not expected to face significant opposition in the senate. if he does become secretary of state, that, of course, would mean a special election in massachusetts for his senate seat. that has to happen 145 to 160 days after the seat becomes vacant. one of the mamz rising to the top of the list is a potential john kerry replacement in the senate is vicky kenny. vicky kennedy, the widow of the late senator ted kennedy. asked by local news outlets whether she might be up for this job, a spokeswoman for vicky kennedy said, "we have no comment on this at this time." in other words, stay tuned. finally, another state that has just dealt with what massachusetts is contemplating right now, the prospect of replacing a long-time senator, is the state of south carolina. today south carolina governor nikky